Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade Dinosauria that first appeared during the

Triassic. Although the exact origin and timing of the evolution of dinosaurs is the subject of
active research,[1] the current scientific consensus places their origin between 231 and 243 million
years ago.[2] They became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates after the TriassicJurassic
extinction event 201 million years ago. Their dominance continued through the Jurassic and
Cretaceous periods and ended when the CretaceousPaleogene extinction event led to the
extinction of most dinosaur groups 66 million years ago.

Until the late 20th century, all groups of dinosaurs were believed to be extinct. The fossil record,
however, indicates that birds, which are now termed "avian dinosaurs,"[3] are the modern
descendants of feathered dinosaurs,[4] having evolved from theropod ancestors during the Jurassic
Period.[5] As such, birds were the only dinosaur lineage to survive the mass extinction event.[6]

Throughout the remainder of this article, the term "dinosaur" is sometimes used generically to
refer to the combined group of avian dinosaurs (birds) and non-avian dinosaurs, while at other
times it is used to refer to the non-avian dinosaurs specifically, while the avian dinosaurs are
sometimes simply referred to as "birds". This article deals primarily with non-avian dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs are a varied group of animals from taxonomic, morphological and ecological
standpoints. Birds, at over 10,000 living species,[7] are the most diverse group of vertebrates
besides perciform fish.[8] Using fossil evidence, paleontologists have identified over 500 distinct
genera[9] and more than 1,000 different species of non-avian dinosaurs.[10]

Dinosaurs are represented on every continent by both extant species (birds) and fossil remains.[11]
Some are herbivorous, others carnivorous. While dinosaurs were ancestrally bipedal, many
extinct groups included quadrupedal species, and some were able to shift between these stances.
Elaborate display structures such as horns or crests are common to all dinosaur groups, and some
extinct groups developed skeletal modifications such as bony armor and spines. Evidence
suggests that egg laying and nest building are additional traits shared by all dinosaurs.

While the dinosaurs' modern-day surviving avian lineage (birds) are generally small due to the
constraints of flight, many prehistoric dinosaurs (non-avian and avian) were large-bodiedthe
largest sauropod dinosaurs are estimated to have reached lengths of 39.7 meters (130 feet)[12] and
heights of 18 meters (59 feet)[13] and were the largest land animals of all time. Still, the idea that
non-avian dinosaurs were uniformly gigantic is a misconception based in part on preservation
bias, as large, sturdy bones are more likely to last until they are fossilized. Many dinosaurs were
quite small: Xixianykus, for example, was only about 50 cm (20 in) long.

Through the first half of the 20th century, before birds were recognized to be dinosaurs, most of
the scientific community believed dinosaurs to have been sluggish and cold-blooded. Most
research conducted since the 1970s, however, has indicated that all dinosaurs were active
animals with elevated metabolisms and numerous adaptations for social interaction.
Since the first dinosaur fossils were recognized in the early 19th century, mounted fossil dinosaur
skeletons have been major attractions at museums around the world, and dinosaurs have become
an enduring part of world culture. The large sizes of some dinosaur groups, as well as their
seemingly monstrous and fantastic nature, have ensured dinosaurs' regular appearance in best-
selling books and films, such as Jurassic Park. Persistent public enthusiasm for the animals has
resulted in significant funding for dinosaur science, and new discoveries are regularly covered by
the media.